Stormy camp on exmoor

[Woody girl]

I planned to take the smokey hut to a little known campsite on exmoor near Lynton. Set in a deep valley with the river Lynn rushing alongside the camping area. Fires are allowed, very basic amenities, 3 loos, 2 showers(which I can't comment on, as I never tried them, but they looked good.)
Drinking water stand pipe. And that's it.
Perfect Riverside camping location.
The weather on Friday wasn't the best. The mist was down and the spectacular views on the journey across the moor were non existent.
I arrived just as a strong wind picked up, so had three..or was it four attempts ? to put the tent up. Every time it came to inserting the pole, it became a giant balloon, pulled up half the pegs, and without quick thinking and a firm grip, I'd have lost the thing!
Eventualy I got it up, double pegged it, and set up my bed while the kettle boiled for a well earned cuppa, and some food.
I turned in about 9pm, and just as I snuggled down into my down bag, the wind realy picked up. It was quite nerve racking, but eventualy I fell asleep snug and warm.
Woke up in the early hours with wind whipping the tent about, and lay there wondering what the heck I had gotten into. Eventually fell asleep again after a few nervous hours, and woke to a lovely calm sunny morning.
Saturday was spent butchering a roadkill pheasant and frying the breasts up with some wild garlic and butter. Learning some first aid and making rabbit snares with a bit of copper wire and parracord.
Sat round the fire in the evening, and it got realy chilly, after a rather nasty hailstorm, I decided another early night was in order to catch up on lost sleep.

Ha! Famous last words!

The wind realy started to pick up as I snuggled down and the tent was realy doing a dance. The wind got under it and it started ballooning and whipping around in a frenzied dance. I could feel the blasts of wind rushing over me, and the light went on several times to check everything was still holding. Eventualy I realised that I could do absolutely nothing in this vicious wind. I'd get freezing cold and soaked if I had to try and put a peg back in, so I pulled the blanket over my head and sent a quick word to the big man upstairs to keep me dry safe and warm, and I'd sort any problems in the morning.
I woke about 8 am to another calm morning, even some sunshine. I sat up and looked at the tent. Oh gosh, three pegs by the door had pulled out, some of my gear was sitting in the sunshine, and only half of it was still pegged in.
I had slept in my clothes in case of needing a quick exit to the toilet block for shelter, but thankfully all was intact and though my dreams were about low flying aircraft and strangely a giant standing by my tent and roaring fit to bust, no damage, and I was able to get out and start sorting things out.
Though the storm had blown over I decided to pack up and go home, as I realy wanted my own safe comfy bed. I had had about 3 hrs uninterrupted sleep two nights running, and felt exhausted.
It took untill midday to dry and pack up my gear.
Arranged for my friend dave to come pick me up at 3pm. So popped up to the first field where an absolutely lovely lady I'd met in the loos on Friday evening, invited me to come for a cuppa and sit in her gazebo, untill Dave came to pick me up.
Had a lovely couple of hours bonding and petting her dog ,drinking tea and chatting with her and her parter who told many interesting camping tales, untill my lift home arrived.
The trip home gave us the stunning views we'd missed on the way in on Friday.
Definatly an interesting weekend as I Haven't camped in a storm for about 20 yrs.
Definatly an experience I'm not over keen to repeat, unless I have a properly enclosed tent. It did show me a couple of things that I hadn't bargained for. A gas stove will not light, or blows out, even with a windshield! and at one stage I caught a pan of almost boiling water as the wind blew it off the top of the stove. Next time I'll take the trangia. Take a tent with a sewn in groundsheet if you are expecting high winds. I did know it was going to be "a bit fresh" shall we say, but I wasn't realy prepared for the severity of this one.
Anyway, I survived, learned and in the end, had a good time, and will live for another trip....hopefully in warm sunshine next time.
I am glad to be home, get a shower, fresh clothes and finaly the bacon eggs, beans and sausages I'd planned for breakfast, but never got time to cook.
I shall unpack and clean up my gear tomorrow.
Yet another early night tonight. I'm tuckered!

 

[Tengu]

Oh, camping in hih winds might be fun...but also stressful.

Did my parcel arrive?

 

[Broch]

Great write up - camping in bad weather is always a test of our resilience and the trips we tend to remember most. Anyone can camp in calm dry conditions

 

[Pattree]

Totally agree with @Broch . You’ve made some memories. Thanks for sharing.

I have to say that I have very little time for 8 inch bent wire tent pegs.

I wouldn’t recommend mine to a back packer but I also carry just four ten inch nylon augers (available everywhere). I have learned to have confidence in them.

When you’ve done it a few times and survived a catastrophe; falling asleep in a storm is delightful..
Just a blow

Wind dropped with the dawn.

Edited to add:
I cannot recommend highly enough - learning to laugh.

 

[Woody girl]

Totally agree with @Broch . You’ve made some memories. Thanks for sharing.

I have to say that I have very little time for 8 inch bent wire tent pegs.

I wouldn’t recommend mine to a back packer but I also carry just four ten inch nylon augers (available everywhere). I have learned to have confidence in them.

When you’ve done it a few times and survived a catastrophe; falling asleep in a storm is delightful..
Just a blow
View attachment 102502
Wind dropped with the dawn.

The robens pegs I used for the guys were perfect and stayed in the ground. The origional smokey hut pegs were the ones that gave way, even double pegged on the windward side.
The wind veered in the night and took out the leeward pegs which were not double pegged as I figured they would have less stress, and I'd run out of pegs anyway.
The ground was very wet, and they just pulled out great wads of turf.
I have since been told we had 50mph winds by the site owner and being in a deep valley the wind was funneled even more.
Sadly I left my phone at home in the rush to exit the house. In fact I had to give my friend the keys and ask him to go in and unplug it, so I had no phone or keys. I had to stick it out untill he arrived to take me home. So sadly no photos, which was high in my mind before I left. I think you lot would have enjoyed the skinning and cooking ones...and the end results of Saturday nights little blow on my little tent!
Had I my own car, I may have bailed or at least slept in it.
Anyway, apart from my arthritis playing up and causing every move packing up to be a very painful experience, it was great to get out into wild nature and experience the madhouse!
A lesson in persevering, so many yt wild campers bail out in those conditions and loose a valuable experience and knowledge on survival.
I was with a bunch of ruff tuff ex army survivalist, so I couldn't let the bushcraft side down. Tho to be honest...I wanted to, but resisted the temptation to bail out to the shower block and four solid walls!
Oh, I forgot, we skinned and cooked up a squirrel or two aswell, which one of the guys brought along.
Strangely they were not very interested in a wild nettle, cleaver and dandelion soup.
Or fried nettles with wild garlic butter and bacon as a side to their meat feast.
Not even a can of baked beans were seen...apart from mine.

Tengu, your parcel arrived too late to take with me, but it did arrive and I have it. Thank you.
I can use it at future camp events.
Did I say we did a severe bleed first aid demo too? Military medic. Very interesting to learn what has become outdated practice since the Ukraine war, and more effective ways to deal with wounds.
Definatly worth a brush up for anyone interested.

 

[Pattree]

Just to be clear, my photos are not recent.
I’ll be camping with a couple of daughters and their six year olds tomorrow for a couple of nights.
It looks as if the gods of fire and canvas are going to be kind. Last week we were preparing the little ones for thunder and torrential rain.

We rely on Kelly Kettles and Trangias so it can blow as hard as it likes - just speed things up.
Luckily I don’t think we’ll have to test that

 

[Tengu]

Oh, thats a shame, Woody; I did pay for fast delivery.

Still, you can use them in the future.

 

[Nice65]

to a little known campsite on exmoor near Lynton. Set in a deep valley with the river Lynn rushing alongside the camping area.

I know it and I’m in Sussex

A few pics, it’s a lovely place.

 

[Woody girl]

Sorry Rich, dont think that is the site. I may be wrong tho. It's about 5miles from Lynton.
Though that one looks gorgeous too.
The valley was much steeper less wooded and the river fenced off as it was a 20 foot drop to the water. Couldn't get near it for a paddle sadly.
Text me what you think it is and I'll correct myself here if I'm wrong!
I'll let you know for future ref when you are down here next. Its only 12quid a night, pp, van or tent, hook ups obviously extra and the old farmer who owns it is a delightful typical, old style, exmoor chap.

I will say, it was an amazing headspace reset after the dreary boring winter I've had.
Certainly wasn’t a quiet peaceful humdrum experience for sure!

 

[Tengu]

It sounds wonderful. Summer hols are hard for me these days as I have work.

 

[saxonaxe]

Nice trip out Woody, an interesting read too. It blew hard Saturday night here on the other side of the Bristol Channel. One of those nights when I thought, "Glad I'm not out in that "...

 

[Woody girl]

Nice trip out Woody, an interesting read too. It blew hard Saturday night here on the other side of the Bristol Channel. One of those nights when I thought, "Glad I'm not out in that "...

Must admit I had the thought ..what the ..expletive..am I doing out in this in a flimsy tent!

But it was a great lesson in perseverance, and faith in my chosen gear. A few lessons in what works in adverse conditions and what doesn't.
I did utilise the fire fir cooking as the gas was too dangerous being blown over on one occasion. Luckily I was eagle eyed watching it, and managed to catch the handle of the pan before it threw boiling water all over me.. that's when I stopped using it, and had luckily also brought my on the fire pans and kettle ,so was able to use alternative methods.
I was under prepared for the ferocity of the storm tho, but weathered it well with the precautions I had taken to camp in high winds.
I did think I should have not bothered about being bushcraft to every degree, and taken my vango, and the trangia instead. It did cross my mind before I left, should have listened to my gut instincts, but I knew the group I was camping with would be hard core survivalists and didn't want to look like a girly amateur with a barbie pink tent. (Bought in a sale, silly money as pink tents don't sell, but to my mind still keep you dry, so I bought it.)
Pure vanity stopped me making a right decision.
We live and very importantly learn.

 

[Nice65]

Wondered if you’re using a remote canister stove or one that screws onto the can?

This is the Alpkit I have and it’s pretty stable.



Re: the site, the one in the pics I posted wasn’t as far north as Lynton.

 

[Foogs]

Great write up, thank you

 

[Toddy]

I admire your determination and perseverance.....I think I'd have found somewhere else to coorie down.

Stoves though. I have a catalytic stove and it just does not blow out. Kind of dated now, but it's been rock solid reliable.

 

[Woody girl]

Wondered if you’re using a remote canister stove or one that screws onto the can?

This is the Alpkit I have and it’s pretty stable.

View attachment 102509

Re: the site, the one in the pics I posted wasn’t as far north as Lynton.

It was am un named cheap remote canister fishing stove, but the seperate windshield kept being blown over onto the pan. Windshield is now in two pieces! Can be mended, so no biggie. I don't think any gas stove is going to work in such high winds. Definatly a trangia would have been the stove to take. I just don't like the aluminium, or non stick pans they come with.
I do prefer my stainless steel cook set, which can be used on the fire with no problems, so they do double duty.

 

[Woody girl]

I admire your determination and perseverance.....I think I'd have found somewhere else to coorie down.

Stoves though. I have a catalytic stove and it just does not blow out. Kind of dated now, but it's been rock solid reliable.

Thanks, to be honest I was just too tired and in pain with the old creaky bones, to be bothered to do anything else but pull the blanket over my head, offer up a quick prayer and just go to sleep .
I couldn't decant to a vehicle, as I didn't have one. I was warm and dry in my bag, and I decided not to worry untill there was no alternative.. no point in getting wet and cold untill I had no alternative. The loo block was a few mins walk away, upwind. I decided to just hunker down and go to sleep.
The best decision in the end, I would not have wanted to walk against 50+mph winds to get there with my bag and mat getting blown about and wet.
I've sorted most of my kit, but I'm still suffering the after effects. I don't just have bags under my eyes...I have 80 litre rucksacks!
It's gonna take a week to get myself back on track, I'm sure. I was struggling to open a bag of crisps this afternoon. I'm not joking! Had another nap earlier, and I'm already thinking about my jammies, a hot chocolate , and bed.
Got the chimney sweep coming at 9am tomorrow so I can't have a cheeky lie in.
I do so prefer my hammock for ease and comfort! Back to fair weather camping from now on. I'm too old and creaky for this sort of malarky.
Anyone want to donate me a camper van?????

 

[Toddy]

I've been wondering about a camper van....and the untold relief of a handy private loo anytime I need it.

 

[Woody girl]

I've been wondering about a camper van....and the untold relief of a handy private loo anytime I need it.

I think that would be a perfect solution for you, especially if you could share the driving with someone. You might even get to the moot.

 

[walker]

I planned to take the smokey hut to a little known campsite on exmoor near Lynton. Set in a deep valley with the river Lynn rushing alongside the camping area. Fires are allowed, very basic amenities, 3 loos, 2 showers(which I can't comment on, as I never tried them, but they looked good.)
Drinking water stand pipe. And that's it.
Perfect Riverside camping location.
The weather on Friday wasn't the best. The mist was down and the spectacular views on the journey across the moor were non existent.
I arrived just as a strong wind picked up, so had three..or was it four attempts ? to put the tent up. Every time it came to inserting the pole, it became a giant balloon, pulled up half the pegs, and without quick thinking and a firm grip, I'd have lost the thing!
Eventualy I got it up, double pegged it, and set up my bed while the kettle boiled for a well earned cuppa, and some food.
I turned in about 9pm, and just as I snuggled down into my down bag, the wind realy picked up. It was quite nerve racking, but eventualy I fell asleep snug and warm.
Woke up in the early hours with wind whipping the tent about, and lay there wondering what the heck I had gotten into. Eventually fell asleep again after a few nervous hours, and woke to a lovely calm sunny morning.
Saturday was spent butchering a roadkill pheasant and frying the breasts up with some wild garlic and butter. Learning some first aid and making rabbit snares with a bit of copper wire and parracord.
Sat round the fire in the evening, and it got realy chilly, after a rather nasty hailstorm, I decided another early night was in order to catch up on lost sleep.

Ha! Famous last words!

The wind realy started to pick up as I snuggled down and the tent was realy doing a dance. The wind got under it and it started ballooning and whipping around in a frenzied dance. I could feel the blasts of wind rushing over me, and the light went on several times to check everything was still holding. Eventualy I realised that I could do absolutely nothing in this vicious wind. I'd get freezing cold and soaked if I had to try and put a peg back in, so I pulled the blanket over my head and sent a quick word to the big man upstairs to keep me dry safe and warm, and I'd sort any problems in the morning.
I woke about 8 am to another calm morning, even some sunshine. I sat up and looked at the tent. Oh gosh, three pegs by the door had pulled out, some of my gear was sitting in the sunshine, and only half of it was still pegged in.
I had slept in my clothes in case of needing a quick exit to the toilet block for shelter, but thankfully all was intact and though my dreams were about low flying aircraft and strangely a giant standing by my tent and roaring fit to bust, no damage, and I was able to get out and start sorting things out.
Though the storm had blown over I decided to pack up and go home, as I realy wanted my own safe comfy bed. I had had about 3 hrs uninterrupted sleep two nights running, and felt exhausted.
It took untill midday to dry and pack up my gear.
Arranged for my friend dave to come pick me up at 3pm. So popped up to the first field where an absolutely lovely lady I'd met in the loos on Friday evening, invited me to come for a cuppa and sit in her gazebo, untill Dave came to pick me up.
Had a lovely couple of hours bonding and petting her dog ,drinking tea and chatting with her and her parter who told many interesting camping tales, untill my lift home arrived.
The trip home gave us the stunning views we'd missed on the way in on Friday.
Definatly an interesting weekend as I Haven't camped in a storm for about 20 yrs.
Definatly an experience I'm not over keen to repeat, unless I have a properly enclosed tent. It did show me a couple of things that I hadn't bargained for. A gas stove will not light, or blows out, even with a windshield! and at one stage I caught a pan of almost boiling water as the wind blew it off the top of the stove. Next time I'll take the trangia. Take a tent with a sewn in groundsheet if you are expecting high winds. I did know it was going to be "a bit fresh" shall we say, but I wasn't realy prepared for the severity of this one.
Anyway, I survived, learned and in the end, had a good time, and will live for another trip....hopefully in warm sunshine next time.
I am glad to be home, get a shower, fresh clothes and finaly the bacon eggs, beans and sausages I'd planned for breakfast, but never got time to cook.
I shall unpack and clean up my gear tomorrow.
Yet another early night tonight. I'm tuckered!

Are you talking about doone valley if so we have camped there many times over the years excellent place